Insurance beneficiaries need clearly defined

September 26, 2006

By Tom Philpott: Military Update

Service members, particularly Reserve and National Guard, might not understand yet how their military insurance has been enhanced to cover traumatic injury, whether suffered in war or at home even while off duty.

The new Traumatic Injury Protection under Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (TSGLI) is still referred to as “Wounded Warrior Insurance” by proponents who pushed it through Congress last year with surprising speed.

Most of the 2,700 recipients to date are wounded warriors, say officials. They qualified for TSGLI retroactively because of injuries sustained in combat areas since Oct. 7, 2001, the day U.S. troops first entered Afghanistan.

But for injuries incurred after Nov. 30, 2005, the phrase “wounded warrior” fails to capture the breadth of TSGLI. That’s because any service member, active or reserve, who has Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and suffers a traumatic injury can be eligible for the trauma pay.

A reservist, for example, might qualify if he loses a limb in a car crash while commuting to his civilian job. A National Guard member might qualify if she is paralyzed in a diving accident while on vacation.

Understanding this is important because members hit by traumatic injuries have to apply to their service for TSGLI payments. That’s why officials in the VA and DoD have embarked on an outreach campaign to get details on TSGLI to all service members.

Those wounded in war are being briefed on TSGLI during treatment and recuperation at major medical facilities, said Thomas Lastowka, director of insurance services for the Veterans’ Benefits Administration. “Our concern right now is primarily those people not on active duty who may be injured.”

Lastowka was one of several officials to testify this month before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee on progress implementing TSGLI. Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, committee chairman, explained again how three injured veterans first suggested a wounded warrior insurance rider to him last year. The departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs quickly got behind the idea and helped to draft legislation. It swiftly became law.

Payments help service members and families handle the extra expense and strain of adjusting to life-altering injuries. Payments range from $25,000 to $100,000, depending on severity of their trauma. Loss of a hand above the wrist, for example, would qualify a member for $50,000.
Since December, SGLI coverage has been automatic for service members. They have to opt out to avoid it.

Tom Philpott can be contacted at Military Update, P.O. Box 231111, Centreville, Va. 20120-1111, or by e-mail at:
milupdate@aol.com